Author Archives: jimwdollar

03 We must talk to the world, and the world must talk to us. Though “commune” is more to the point than “talk,” for with “commune,” the emphasis is on listening and not on what is to be said. How do we position ourselves– intentionally/deliberately– to commune with the world? Sit quietly. Tune in. WaitContinue reading “February 19, 2021”

02 My beef with Buddhism is its not-caring solution to suffering. The Buddha’s big idea was to not-care. To call suffering an illusion, and have nothing to do with it. I much prefer Jesus’ solution to suffering, which is to suffer! To bear the pain of caring and to care even if it kills you.Continue reading “February 18, 2021”

02 Wes Nesker said, “Nature, like play, has no purpose or consequence other than itself.” What do we do that is like that? Eating and sex might be it for most of us. Watching birds. And clouds. And sunrises and sets. How long is your list? How often do you do something on it? WorkContinue reading “February 17, 2021”

05 For me, the pathos of “the human condition” comes down to the choices we have. Doing the best that can be done with them still leaves us bound by them limited to them, and to the choices made by those whose choosing impacted us and our choices. We all could have done better– couldContinue reading “February 16, 2021”

04 Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to God.” And, Jesus said, “Do not throw your pearls before swine.” And, Jesus said, “Judge not, that you may be not judged.” What would Jesus do? Whatever Jesus would do, it would likely beContinue reading “February 13, 2021”

04 The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara practiced “benevolence without purpose” (Joseph Campbell). He wasn’t in it for what he could get out of it. Just being what was needed, just doing what was called for, just seeing what was happening and knowing how to respond to it, “participating in the nature of things” for the good ofContinue reading “February 12, 2021”

02 We have to develop and maintain our relationship with our core– the old Taoists referred to it as our original nature. It’s our essence, our essential self, who we are –0– 01 We think in terms of freedom from all the things that keep us from being free to do what we want– asContinue reading “February 11, 2021”

03 IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE BELIEVE!!! Believe it or not. That doesn’t matter either. What matters is what we do. What matters is how we live our life. Believe anything you want as long as it enables you to do what is needed, what is called for, when it is needed, where it isContinue reading “February 10, 2021”

04 We are not free to want just anything. We are bound to want what we want whether we want to or not. We live in bondage to our wants as slaves to their master. Freedom is found in freely doing what is called for whether we want to or not. Since we are alreadyContinue reading “February 09, 2021”